The mid-2000s were a bit of a cult time for Boro’ all told; Graham Westley now firmly into his stride as boss and pushing us into the promotion picture. With forwards like Anthony Elding and Dino Maamria at our disposal, we had the necessary capability to score goals. But there can never be too many frontmen ready to step into the fold when you want to get to the top. And that’s what made the arrival of Darryn Stamp in January 2005 all the more important.
In what was to become true GW fashion, the 2004-5 Nationwide Conference campaign hadn’t got off to a flying start. We’d go on little runs of winning and then little runs of losing. As the year drew to a close, it looked like we were finding consistency. And then January happened. In the league, Barnet were runaway leaders. We were part of a chasing pack eyeing up a spot in the playoffs. But there were arguably 10 clubs looking to be one of the final four.
When did Darryn Stamp join us?
We picked up Stampy towards the end of the January transfer window. Actually, we can’t be too sure if that was a thing back then. And we certainly can’t now remember that far back – not least given everything Boro’ have put us through since then! From 11 December through Christmas, we won three and drew one (in that order). The new year, however, started with a 2-1 defeat at Barnet. And we followed it up with a draw and a defeat in the league after.
We’d also gone out of the FA Trophy to Woking, but progressed in the Conference Cup (ooh!). For our final match of the month, GW’s old charges – Farnborough – were in town. And it was prime time for our new lad to make his debut; fresh from an 18-month spell at Chester City. That wasn’t such a bad time for him either; the forward forming a formidable partnership in attack with Daryl Clare as the Seals won the 2003-4 Conference title.
Where did he play for Boro’?
He was a quintessential centre forward.
What makes him an unsung hero?
Both Dino and Eldinho were finding the net regularly enough at the time of Stamp’s signing. But few others within the squad were chipping in with many. The addition of the ex-Chester forward was designed to bolster that Goals For tally. In doing so, it’d strengthen our push in the direction of the playoffs. The feature that probably makes Stampy an unsung hero more than anything was the relatively quiet way he went about it.
In that second half of the season, Stamp scored eight times. In four out of the six games he netted, his goals made a big difference between how many points we came away with. Take Carlisle away, for example. His brace on a bitterly cold midweek night in February earned us all three points. Later on away to Woking, he was one of two goalscorers in a 2-1 victory. The impact that Stampy had, therefore, was both critical and somewhat understated.
At the end of the season, we missed out on promotion after losing to Carlisle in the playoff final. Eldinho finished top of the scoring charts on 22 (from 48 appearances, 46% strike rate), with Maamria next on 13 (from 33, 39% strike rate). Stampy slotted in third with eight from a grand total of 20 appearances (40% strike rate). And to give you some context on the lack of goals elsewhere in the squad, fourth top scorer was Jason Goodliffe on five.
In the 2005-6 season, Boro’ were again chasing the playoffs. Ultimately, we’d fail in that aim. But we also weren’t helped by the fact that Eldinho fell out with GW – and ended up leaving the club. Dino’s goal count dropped off too; finishing with seven from 31 appearances. So, it fell to Stampy to pick up the slack and that he did. In the end, he bagged 13 from 38. Maybe it wasn’t as prolific as his first season, but only Boydie went with him into double figures (12).
Darryn Stamp: Epilogue
The fall-out from failing to make the playoffs was swift and dramatic. GW left the club, with Mark Stimson coming in. This obviously meant that anyone linked to the old regime had an enormous question mark over their future. While Stampy stayed into the first weeks of that new 2006-7 campaign, he was used sparingly – one start and three subs. And it wasn’t much help that our form at the top of the season was atrocious.
Weirdly, this was despite signing a new contract with us in May 2006.
In October 2006, Stamp moved out on loan (with Goodliffe) to York City. It took him through to the January window again, at which point he secured a permanent move away. He was on the way back north to link up with Halifax Town. Towards the end of the 2007-8 season, he’d spend a bit of time on loan at Northwich Victoria – only to be recalled by the Shaymen in an attempt to stave off relegation. It didn’t work. They went down. Stampy was transfer-listed.
He actually came off the bench against us on the final day of that season; Boro’ winning 2-1 at The Shay – even though our promotion hopes had disintegrated under Peter Taylor. He’d then score against us the following season after securing a permanent move to Northwich; the Vics holding us to a 1-1 draw at the Lamex in November 2008. Oh, and he was sent off in that game too. Our paths, however, would never cross again.
GW brought Stampy to the club to score goals. And the goals he did get were crucial; giving us a path into the 2004-5 playoffs. It didn’t quite go to plan the following season, but that’s not exactly on him. And, ultimately, his days were numbered once GW moved on. Even so, it ain’t an excuse to cherish the impact the ex-Scunthorpe and Chester striker had for us. Like we said, what he did was understated – yet imperative. That’s an unsung hero in our book.
I have to admit, I forgotten all about him. This brought back memories. Remember that push for the playoffs when we got to the final but forgot all about Stamp! It was always Elding and Maamria goals I remember. 🙂
One of the best forwards – he was Teddy Sheringham like in his ability to ‘hang’ in the air . Fondly rembered